What an amazing day! Hopefully I can get this to work...I really want you to see it!
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Mekenze and Me in NYC...
So the day finally came for me to escort Mekenze to the Big Apple for her Summer Ballet Intensive workshop! The only problem with me using the word "escort" is that I had never been there! Mekenze had, however, so she was the "expert."
We took a red eye flight and landed in NYC at 10 am. Feeling overwhelmed with finding our way to our hotel in New Jersey (my brother Zach found us a room at a rockin' price of $29.95 a night...so it was worth the extra travel time) on no sleep and virtually no experience, I decided it would be worth it to pay a taxi driver $70 to take us there. (Hey, I actually talked him down! He wanted $100!) So he found 4 other ladies to make it "worth it for himself, and we piled into his SUV (which made everyone but me nervous cuz it wasn't a traditional yellow NYC cab...I guess I'm naive, but he was nice and spoke French even! and we made it safely...so...)
Here is the picture of our cabbie and the other riders. They were fun!
We took a the New Jersey Transit bus from the Hampton Inn-Meadowlands for $3.40 each way. It was easy and kinda fun! Our first attempt was interesting as we didn't know if it would really stop for us...we waited like 20 minutes past when the schedule said it should be there.
Here is Mekenze at the bus stop, wondering if her Mom is a dork for agreeing to stay in New Jersey instead of downtown Manhatten...
Trying to get back on the right bus at 11 pm was a different adventure. We weren't sure at first if we would ever find it! Our instructions didn't match the real deal...gate 409 will always hold frustrating memories for Mekenze...
Our first day was full of "figuring things out." The subway, avenues compared to streets, uptown vs downtown...it was awesome! I can't believe this is real life to some people! and I can't believe how much I loved it! It's dirty, crazy, chaotic, and wonderful!
Billy Elliot...my first Broadway show. I still can't believe how such a narrow, compact, filthy street could be home to such brilliance! You walk into what seems like a tiny little store front and it opens up into this glorious theater!
I have to admit...while I really did enjoy the show--the music, the dancing, the staging and props--I was taken aback by the language. Wow! I've never been so exposed! But if you take away the "cockroaches" it was great! I will see Wicked and/or Lion King and/or Little Mermaid and/or Mary Poppins and/or Phantom next time I go.
Mekenze got some really cute shorts--souvenirs from the show. She collects playbills, merch, etc from all the shows she has seen... 
The famous fountain from "Friends." I don't watch the show really so I don't recognize it, but everyone else probably does. Mekenze is in LOVE with Friends! I feel honored to be in this Friendly Foto with her!
Isn't this a great view! Somewhere back there is the Hotel from Home Alone 2 and Madonna's apartment and one of the Trump Towers...
Strawberry Fields and the monument to John Lennon. This is a serious shrine for some people. It was very cool to see, but I especially loved the building across the street where he lived and was killed. Incredible!
Mekenze got some really cute shorts--souvenirs from the show. She collects playbills, merch, etc from all the shows she has seen...
Mekenze will be on Broadway someday. Hopefully she can find something that is becoming to a "Latter Day Saint girl..."
We spent a lot of time in Central Park. It is huge! So much to see! We took a little bike tour. A kid from Russia pedaled the bike while we sat in a little carriage. It was awesome...poor kid! Ha ha..He showed us the sites of the park. It was very enchanting...
The famous fountain from "Friends." I don't watch the show really so I don't recognize it, but everyone else probably does. Mekenze is in LOVE with Friends! I feel honored to be in this Friendly Foto with her!
Isn't this a great view! Somewhere back there is the Hotel from Home Alone 2 and Madonna's apartment and one of the Trump Towers...
Strawberry Fields and the monument to John Lennon. This is a serious shrine for some people. It was very cool to see, but I especially loved the building across the street where he lived and was killed. Incredible!
Here are some scenes from the times when we just "hit the pavement" and explored. That was my favorite part. My husband told us we needed to "blend in" to be safe. I think we did pretty well with that! 2 people asked us for directions!
Times Square...Absolutely amazing!
Super Man Dude selling "designer" purses for $10 each! He was dancing and rapping. "Half price! Half price! Today only...blah blah!" 
Mekenze picked a purse out for me and for her. Heaven for her! Street vendors are fun. 
I really learned a lot about Mekenze and about myself on this trip. It was good time and I plan to spend similar time with each of my kids as they grow up! Incredible trip! Can't wait til next time!
Times Square...Absolutely amazing!
Super Man Dude selling "designer" purses for $10 each! He was dancing and rapping. "Half price! Half price! Today only...blah blah!" He loved that I wanted to take his picture. I was trying to sneak, but he was all for the pose!
I am such a people watcher, and he was definitely fun to watch!
Mekenze picked a purse out for me and for her. Heaven for her! Street vendors are fun.
Finally I had to drop her off and go home. It was easier for me after having spent 2 and 1/2 days in the city with her. She is very smart and very strong and she will be fine. The area where she is staying was my favorite part of the city (that we saw) It reminded me of The Cosby Show! Quaint and "peaceful" (relatively) and I would seriously live there if I had to live in NYC.
Here she is in front of her dorm. The inside reminds me of the orphanage on Annie. Small, run down, and really fascinating! So much character! I heard that a little room like hers would cost like $4000 a month. Who knows, but man! I feel lucky to live where I live!
I really learned a lot about Mekenze and about myself on this trip. It was good time and I plan to spend similar time with each of my kids as they grow up! Incredible trip! Can't wait til next time!
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
California, part 3
I threw this picture of Dave and I in cuz I forgot to include it in our Sea World pics. It's not a bad photo!
On our way "home" from the beach, we stopped at 
Pizza Hut to eat.
Pizza Hut to eat. I thought it would make some fun photos!
Does it look yummy?
Unviersal Studios was the next day! For all of you Desperate Housewives lovers, this is from their "street!" (Davi, this is for you)
My girls are "All That. And a bag of chips."
The Simpsons, which I hate the TV show, was a pretty fun ride!
This was a fun little playhouse where we enjoyed shooting balls at eachother. We left Arielle in there by herself because she was having so much fun! And we left Karter too...sad, huh?
My girls are "All That. And a bag of chips."
The Simpsons, which I hate the TV show, was a pretty fun ride!
This was a fun little playhouse where we enjoyed shooting balls at eachother. We left Arielle in there by herself because she was having so much fun! And we left Karter too...sad, huh?http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=98484383-078c-42bc-b04e-29d8bf4f1db7&productId=11&projectSponsor=142544
California Trip, part 2
We stayed in Anaheim at the Double Tree Inn. The drives were pretty fun but we seemed to get lost each time we tried to get "home." I thought Dave grew up in So. Cal! ha haBut we LOVED seeing the San Diego Temple on the way back to Anaheim! It is BEAUTIFUL!
So why would I put a picture of Mekenze's foot? Because it sat next to me the whole trip pretty much, except when I was driving, it was Arielle's foot. Couldn't take a picture while driving however...sad for you, huh?
I really think that Karter's favorite part of the trip was staying in the hotel! He was so excited! He slept in all the beds, I think...Next you will enjoy our Huntington Beach experience. It was a really good day! Dave's sister, Vickie, and two of her kids,Matthew and Danielle, came with us. We don't get to see them much, but we do have a good time when we do!
Matt and Karter had fun playing Smash Ball, another gift from Dave's Isa-friend, Jim.
Isn't this a great photo? Mekenze and Arielle's favorite beach picture ever!
Or wait, maybe they like this one of them laying out better! :)
Jessica burns really easily, so she only layed out in her swim suit for a minute, and then she put her clothes back on. Smart girl...kinda funny to see, though!
Boogie Boarding was a real hit! Dave taught the kids the secret to catching the waves. I had a really great time watching!
Curtis is always the stud...
Karter wanted me to bury him...
Karter emerging from the sand...
and he makes it out! Super hero!
Mady and Arielle played a game of Smash ball, as did Curtis and Dave. This picture only shows half of the teams, of course.
Matthew and Karter, building a sand castle.
Boogie Boarding was a real hit! Dave taught the kids the secret to catching the waves. I had a really great time watching!
Curtis is always the stud...
Karter wanted me to bury him...
Karter emerging from the sand...
and he makes it out! Super hero!
Mady and Arielle played a game of Smash ball, as did Curtis and Dave. This picture only shows half of the teams, of course.
Matthew and Karter, building a sand castle.California Trip June 2009
Dave's favorite vacation is California, so while I hoped to take a road trip to Nashville and then on New York City, he planned to spend a week in Southern California. We did have a great time, however. We actually got to see more than just Disneyland and Knotts! Ha! Does that sound spoiled? Disneyland is, after all, the ULTIMATE VACATION for most everyone! I just think there is more to see~ SO...we went to Sea World and Univesal Studios, and of course to the beach and to visit Dave's Dad for his 75th birthday. Great times! I have a ton of pictures (well, for me) to upload. I forgot our real not-so-wonderful digital camera, but Dave had brought the video camera, which also allows for still photos. I was very excited because I thought that the more expensive camera would take great pictures! But alas, it only takes great video shots. The photos are really only good to post on a blog. I will figure out a way to storybook them, however. You just watch me!
I keep forgetting that these photos upload kinda backward to the order I want them, so they will probably be out of order, but you should be able to follow ok.
So, here goes! First photo:
Are you scared? That shark is about to eat us!
Dave didn't feel too great so luckily we had things to keep us occupied. Mekenze had her phone. Arielle had Mekenze as a pillow.
Mady, Curtis and Karter enjoyed the playground equipment in Elmo's World (or whatever they call the Sesame Street area.) Kinda cute!
Mekenze, Arielle, and I found a really great mirror that showed us how we would look if we were really skinny!
And here is Dave. So grateful for Tylenol Sinus! Perked him up quite well.
Dolphins at Sea World. Aren't they the most amazing animals? If I were to want a pet, it would be a dolphin.
Jessica LOVED Sea World. I have never heard her be so excited as she exclaimed during the whale show "They're so beautiful!" Cuteness.
Arielle and Jess, feelin' the love. They both got really wet in the water ride.
Dave is giving into temptation. His Isa-Buddy, Jim, gave us a ton of candy to eat on our trip! Thanks Jim! You helped Dave feel better!
A cute little pose in front of the Flamingos. Did you know they are pink because they eat shrimp? Weird!
Don't we all look thrilled to be here? The fact is, the day before we left home, 1/2 of our family came down with the "Swine Flu," (Well, not really, but that is what we called it) so we had more fun than our faces show. :) (This photo should have been first, or at least before Dave's sorrowful picture. Oh well! You get the idea!)
Curtis and Karter are feeling all 'BAD.' Little did we know that Michael Jackson was going to die the next day! (Curtis bought those glasses while Dave was recooperating in Elmo's World.)
I keep forgetting that these photos upload kinda backward to the order I want them, so they will probably be out of order, but you should be able to follow ok.
So, here goes! First photo:
Are you scared? That shark is about to eat us!
Dave didn't feel too great so luckily we had things to keep us occupied. Mekenze had her phone. Arielle had Mekenze as a pillow.
Mady, Curtis and Karter enjoyed the playground equipment in Elmo's World (or whatever they call the Sesame Street area.) Kinda cute!
Mekenze, Arielle, and I found a really great mirror that showed us how we would look if we were really skinny!
And here is Dave. So grateful for Tylenol Sinus! Perked him up quite well.
Dolphins at Sea World. Aren't they the most amazing animals? If I were to want a pet, it would be a dolphin.
Jessica LOVED Sea World. I have never heard her be so excited as she exclaimed during the whale show "They're so beautiful!" Cuteness.
Arielle and Jess, feelin' the love. They both got really wet in the water ride.
Dave is giving into temptation. His Isa-Buddy, Jim, gave us a ton of candy to eat on our trip! Thanks Jim! You helped Dave feel better! A cute little pose in front of the Flamingos. Did you know they are pink because they eat shrimp? Weird!
Don't we all look thrilled to be here? The fact is, the day before we left home, 1/2 of our family came down with the "Swine Flu," (Well, not really, but that is what we called it) so we had more fun than our faces show. :) (This photo should have been first, or at least before Dave's sorrowful picture. Oh well! You get the idea!)
Curtis and Karter are feeling all 'BAD.' Little did we know that Michael Jackson was going to die the next day! (Curtis bought those glasses while Dave was recooperating in Elmo's World.)
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